Continuous improvement is a Japanese business philosophy that has since been adopted throughout the West. In 2020, Grand Seiko unveiled a new collection of models, the so-called ‘Grand Seiko Evolution 9 Collection’. This style represented an evolution of the 44GS, the 1967 classic and inspiration for today’s Heritage Collection.
Placing much emphasis on the brand’s relationship with nature, the design philosophy underpinning the Evolution 9 Collection incorporates ‘nine updated elements based on three principles: evolution in aesthetics, evolution in legibility and evolution in comfort’.
Some design ‘elements’ have been carried over from the Grand Seiko Style of 1967 eg the flat dial. Other elements are an evolution of what has gone before eg the indexes now incorporate a deep central groove. And lastly, some elements are wholly new eg ‘the bracelet width is at least half the case diameter’. I have explored the Evolution 9 design language in detail in my review of the Grand Seiko SLGH021G Genbi Valley.
